How to Pick YouTube Topics That Get Views

Topic selection is where most channels either win or lose. A great video on a bad topic gets no views. A decent video on a great topic gets 100K views. Here's how to consistently pick winners.

The Demand-First Method

Don't start with "what do I want to talk about?" Start with "what are people already searching for?"

Step 1: Mine YouTube Autocomplete

Type your niche keyword into YouTube search and write down every suggestion. Then type each suggestion + a letter (a, b, c...) and write down those suggestions too. In 10 minutes, you'll have 50+ proven topic ideas.

Step 2: Spy on Competitors

Find 5–10 channels in your niche. Go to their channel page → Videos → Sort by "Most Popular." These are the topics that worked. Note the patterns: what topics, what angles, what title structures.

Step 3: Check VidIQ/TubeBuddy Scores

For each potential topic, check the search volume and competition. You want: high search volume (1,000+ monthly searches) + low-to-medium competition (under 50 on VidIQ's scale).

The Three Types of Topics

• Evergreen: "How to start investing" — gets views forever. Build your base with these.
• Trending: "Best AI tools March 2026" — spikes in views, then dies. Use for growth spurts.
• Hybrid: "How to use ChatGPT for investing 2026" — evergreen topic with a trending angle. These are gold.

The Ratio

Aim for: 60% evergreen, 25% hybrid, 15% trending. This gives you a stable view base with regular spikes from timely content.